SUNDANCE LONDON: SHORT FILM PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED FOR INAUGURAL EVENT

Trevor Groth, Director of Programming for the Sundance Film Festival, said, “The Sundance Film Festival has a rich history of supporting short-form filmmaking, which has long been a hotbed for discovering emerging filmmaking talent.”

He went on to add, “In the context of the larger Sundance London programme, it is particularly exciting for us to build a showcase of work by filmmakers in both the U.S. and overseas, side by side, to highlight the diversity and depth of work in this field.”

Soon to be announced is the winner of the Short Film Competition, a collaborative effort with the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Ravensbourne, in which UK-based filmmakers were invited to enter original pieces between three and five minutes in length around the theme ‘Story of Our Time.’ The winning short film will premiere at the event.

In addition to film screenings, Sundance London will host live music performances and events each evening, including the previously announced Opening Night event An Evening With Robert Redford And T Bone Burnett, Placebo in concert and Tricky and Martina Topley-Bird performing Maxinquaye. Also on offer to Sundance London audiences will be unique opportunities to attend panels and hear guest speakers talk about the part they play in making films, documentaries and the role of music in modern cinema.

Programme information and ticket packages are available at  www.sundance-london.com. Individual film tickets will be on general sale from 4 April.

The Arm / U.S.A. (Directors and screenwriters: Brie Larson, Sarah Ramos, Jessie Ennis) — In an attempt to keep up with social pressure in a technologically advanced world, Chance starts a texting relationship with Genevieve, a girl he meets at a yogurt shop. Winner of the Special Jury Award for Comedic Storytelling at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. 9 minutes

Dol (First Birthday) / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Andrew Ahn) — A gay Korean American man yearns for a family life just out of reach.11 minutes

Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared / United Kingdom (Directors: Joseph Pelling, Rebecca Sloan) — A short film about teaching creativity by This Is It Collective. 3 minutes

FISHING WITHOUT NETS / U.S.A. (Director: Cutter Hodierne, Screenwriters: Cutter Hodierne, John Hibey) — A story of pirates in Somalia, told from the perspective of the pirates themselves. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. 17 minutes

The Return (Kthimi) / Kosovo (Director: Blerta Zeqiri, Screenwriter: Shefqet Gjocaj) — A man comes back from a Serb prison to his wife and son. Much has changed since he was declared missing and continuing where they left off four years ago may not be as easy as it seems. Winner of the Jury Prize in Short Film, International Fiction at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. 21 minutes

Robots of Brixton / United Kingdom (Director: Kibwe Tavares) — The trials and tribulations of young robots surviving at the sharp end of inner city life, living the predictable existence of a populous hemmed in by poverty, disillusionment and mass unemployment. Winner of the Special Jury Award for Animation Direction at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. 6 minutes

Song of the Spindle / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Drew Christie) — An animated, humorous and informative conversation between a sperm whale and a man. Each one tries to convince the other that his brain is bigger. 4 minutes

Tooty’s Wedding / United Kingdom (Director: Frederic Casella, Screenwriters: Laura Solon, Ben Willbond) — A young couple’s marriage hilariously hits the rocks during a weekend wedding in the country. 19 minutes